Information for Physicians

CPSA works together with physicians across Alberta to provide patients with excellent care.

CPSA programs for physicians

As part of our responsibility to protect the public, CPSA works with physicians to ensure patients are getting the high level of quality care they need and deserve.

We do this by working collaboratively with the profession and by offering a variety of programs and resources to help physicians in their practice.

"Our Continuing Competence program continues to evolve based on input from our partners, emerging evidence and best practices in regulation."

- Dr. Dawn Hartfield, CPSA Assistant Registrar

Physician Assessment & Feedback

Physician Practice Improvement

Physician Prescribing Practices

Professionalism

CPSA’s Standards of Practice, the Code of Conduct and the Code of Ethics & Professionalism will guide your behaviours in practice and are enforceable under the Health Professions Act (HPA).

Standards of Practice

Advice to the Profession

Code of Conduct

Code of Ethics

Complaints

As a physician, you have the training, skills and intention to provide safe patient care, but at some point or another in your medical career, you may receive a complaint. This is not always a bad thing—in fact, it can often result in positive practice changes.

Physician resources

We have developed a resource bank to help you find resources to support you in your practice. Click on All Resources and filter by "Physicians" to explore the resource bank or use the search to find other relevant resources.

All Resources

Physician FAQs

To see all Physician FAQs, click on All FAQs and filter by "Physicians"

All FAQs

CPSA is making changes to its Physician Health Monitoring Program (PHMP) starting September 2023. What is the impact on regulated members?

There is no impact to regulated members. Regulated members continue to have a duty to notify CPSA of health concerns that may impair their ability to provide safe patient care—this has not changed.

CPSA is making changes to its Physician Health Monitoring Program (PHMP) starting September 2023. What’s changing?

Historically, CPSA has operated PHMP primarily in-house. Over the coming months, CPSA will transition health assessments, fitness-to-practise assessments and biological monitoring functions to external service providers.

Diagnosis, treatment and whether a regulated member’s health condition adversely impacts their ability to practise will be objectively determined by independent, experienced and trusted service providers. The service providers will provide CPSA with reports on fitness to practise and recommendations for practice accommodations and conditions, as required.

CPSA is working with our partners in health care to ensure a smooth transition of physician health assessment and monitoring functions. More details will be available in the coming months.

Physicians currently engaged with PHMP have been contacted directly about this change, and we will provide them with more information and details of how this will impact them. No action is required at this time, but you may email PhysicianHealth@cpsa.ab.ca if you have any questions.

When do I need to report a health condition?

Do you currently have a physical, cognitive, mental or emotional condition that is negatively impacting your work, or that is reasonably likely to impact your work in the future? If so, you have a duty to report your condition to CPSA.

Why is CPSA making changes to its Physician Health Monitoring Program (PHMP) starting September 2023?

In addition to ensuring compliance with recent updates to legislation, these changes align with best available and prevailing approaches to physician health programs in North America and best practices in safety-sensitive industries. Moving PHMP functions to providers independent of CPSA supports regulated members feeling more comfortable self-reporting and more inclined to seek support when they need it.

Privacy has always been an important part of PHMP, and this new process will further safeguard the confidentiality of a regulated member’s personal and health information.

Will the changes to CPSA’s Physician Health Monitoring Program starting in 2023 put Albertans at risk?

No. CPSA will continue to protect patients and support safe, high-quality care. PHMP will continue to mitigate and monitor the impact a regulated member’s health condition has on the quality of care they provide to Albertans. CPSA will continue to govern regulated members in a manner that serves the public interest.

Connect with our team

Physician inquiries: 1-800-320-8624 (in Alberta)

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